Took My Car on Ferry From Delaware to New Jersey for Under $100, Worth It

The ferry operates year-round, and ticket prices can vary seasonally. For our April sailing, we paid $94 for two round-trip tickets and vehicle transportation.

Although tickets can be purchased day-of, I definitely recommend booking in advance, as the ferry can fill up quickly.

The ferry begins boarding vehicles a half an hour before the official departure time. It was a beautiful morning, so after parking in our assigned lane, my husband and I got coffee from Lewes Coffee Co., which is located at the terminal.

The café also sell baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, snacks, and souvenirs. Next door, there’s also a full-service restaurant called Grain on the Rocks.

At the Lewes terminal, you can walk along the waterfront and watch the ships come in. My husband and I strolled along the docks to stretch our legs.

During the summer, you can dine at Grain’s outdoor restaurant space and beer garden, but this section was closed during our trip.

Upon hearing the boarding announcement, we headed to our car and waited until it was our turn to drive onto the ship. The ferry can accommodate different types of vehicles, including motorcycles and RVs.

The employees directed parking carefully, and the boarding process was very smooth.

We purchased soft pretzels and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from the cafeteria, which also sells hot food and beverages. Then, we took a walk around the deck to explore.

The ferry offers other indoor amenities, including a gift shop and a bar on the upper deck.

There’s lots of outdoor seating on the ferry, so we had no trouble finding a place to sit down and enjoy the views of Delaware’s shoreline as the ship pulled away from the dock.

We watched a few kitesurfers making the most of the strong breezes on the water.

In the spring and summer months, you can occasionally see dolphins from the deck. If you’re traveling in the winter, you might even catch a glimpse of a whale. We didn’t have any sightings this time, but we’ve seen both animals on previous trips.

Despite the blue skies, we were sailing on a particularly windy day, and the captain eventually requested that all passengers remain seated until we were closer to shore.

Thankfully, there is ample indoor seating, so we settled in at a table and spent an hour or so reading.

As we approached Cape May, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine again.

Deboarding after the ride couldn’t have been easier, and overall, it was a great trip. In my opinion, the journey between Lewes and Cape May turns a mundane drive into the perfect coastal day trip.